Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters salary in Modesto, CA
Median pay for plumbers, pipefitters & steamfitters in Modesto, CA: $61,200/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $40,460 – $116,430 · about 450 employed locally
Above the typical metro median ($59,690) by +$1,510 (+3%).
What it's really worth in Modesto
With Modesto's cost of living at 105 (US=100), that $61,200 has the buying power of about $58,215 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $74,872 · median home $468,302 · median rent $2,052/mo.
How Modesto ranks for this job
On raw pay, Modesto, CA is 75th of the 187 metros we hold plumbers, pipefitters & steamfitters wages for. Once Modesto's cost of living is applied, it ranks 106th.
The headline number flatters Modesto. Once housing and everyday costs are taken into account, plumbers, pipefitters & steamfitters here keep less of what they earn than the raw salary implies.
What that salary buys in Modesto
A median home in Modesto, CA costs $468,302 — about 7.7× this salary, against a typical US metro figure of 4.7×. Buying is harder here than in the average metro on this income.
Median rent of $2,052/mo works out at 40% of gross pay — above the conventional 30% affordability ceiling, so renting would stretch this salary.
Where plumbers, pipefitters & steamfitters earn more
Pay on its own is only half the picture, so each row shows what rent costs there relative to Modesto.
| Metro | Median pay | vs Modesto | Rent vs Modesto |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $101,560 | +66% | 1.1× |
| Kennewick, WA | $97,150 | +59% | 0.8× |
| Minneapolis, MN | $96,200 | +57% | 0.8× |
| Duluth, MN | $88,000 | +44% | 0.7× |
Same job elsewhere in CA
| Metro | Median pay | vs Modesto | Rent vs Modesto |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $86,370 | +41% | 1.8× |
| San Francisco, CA | $75,840 | +24% | 1.6× |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $64,380 | +5% | 1.8× |
| San Diego, CA | $64,100 | +5% | 1.4× |
Staying in CA keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires plumbers, pipefitters & steamfitters around Modesto
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- E. & J. Gallo Winery · Manufacturing
Other jobs in Modesto
Source: US BLS OEWS (May 2023) median annual wage; cost of living from BEA; home price and rent from Zillow; household income from US Census ACS. Rankings are across the 187 metros we hold wage data for in this occupation. Estimates for guidance only. See methodology.